Last Shot (Dev Haskell - Private Investigator, Book 6) by Mike Faricy Page A

Civic Responsibility,” Aaron said.
    “Yeah , I know.”
    “She have any proof?”
    “She told me he had a tattoo,” I said.
    Aaron shook his head. “Hell, you know as well as I do that could just be something she picked up at the water cooler. Even if it’s true , it doesn’t prove anything. I don’t recall any mention of her ever bringing any of this up when she was being interviewed or on trial. You’d think at some point it would have crossed the defense’s mind to at least mention it.”
    I nodded my head, agreeing with Aaron. “I didn’t read anything that suggested she brought it up. But she did know about the tattoo.”
    “A tattoo… Jesus Christ just about everyone has one. Even if she guessed she’s got about a seventy-five percent chance of being right. And it doesn’t prove a damn thing. Tell you the truth, it sounds like she got the advice of some jailhouse lawyer while she was in for six years stewing about this Driscoll,” Aaron said shaking his head. “No, I don’t like it. I can’t quite see it.”
    “I didn’t say he did anything, Aaron , other than to take her to bed.”
    “I don’t like that either based on what we know of the guy. Like I said, he’s Mr. Civic Responsibility. I just don’t see it.
    “Yeah, I know. Look , thanks…sorry if I pissed you off earlier. I…”
    “You didn’t piss me off, you just tried to pull an end run and I don’t like tha t, that’s all. Still friends?” He laughed.
    “Yeah, and I suppose it ’s my turn to buy.”
    “It will be, but not tonight . I’m jammed. See you later.”
    I didn’t feel like going home. I didn’t feel like sitting at The Spot. To be honest, I was feeling kind of down. I phoned Heidi.
    “Hello?” she answered with a question, like she was amazed her phone rang.
    “Hi , Heidi, you sound like you’re surprised someone would bother to call you.”
    “Oh , hi, Dev,” she said. Her tone didn’t hide her disappointment.
    “You doing anything tonight?” I had hoped to get together with her, but if she was going to be in one of her downer moods, I would just as soon stay away.
    “No , nothing, I guess.”
    I was picking up the signs and none of them were good.
    “Just thought I’d call and see if you wanted to go to a movie. There’s a new sequel out, Car Chase Four. I’m thinking of going.” Heidi hated guy movies and hated car chases even more.
    “Oh , I don’t know. Where is it playing?”
    “A little place out in St. Paul Park.” She wasn’t a fan of that side of town.
    “Oh.”
    “But I’d have to swing by now. The thing starts in about thirty-five minutes.” She hated to be rushed, so I was banking on getting credit for at least asking and she could continue her private session of the blues.
    “I think I might just give it a miss,” she said and then let loose with a sigh.
    This was where I was supposed to ask was anything wrong. Then, when she said ‘no’ I was supposed to ask three or four more times until she eventually came out with it. Once the cause came to light, I could show up with a favorite takeout dinner and a couple bottles of wine to the tune of about eighty bucks. Then, at the end of the night, she’d tell me it was time to go home because she just wasn’t in the mood. I had a better idea.
     
    Chapter Thirteen
    “Hi, what can I get you?”
    The bartender, a brunette about forty-five, looked to have been around the block a few times. The music coming from the stage area was just loud enough that she had to raise her voice so I could hear what she said.
    “Better give me a Summit Extra Pale,” I half yelled.
    She was back with my beer in about two minutes and I slipped her a ten. I was the only guy at the bar. The music was loud, the light was dim and the carpet was a sleazy leopard skin pattern. The other customers were placing their orders with cocktail waitresses half dressed in a sort of black lingerie kind of uniform. Nasty’s patrons, all male, were mostly seated